A multiracial, nontraditional cast will take on the timeless Thornton Wilder play Our Town, featuring actress Portia as The Stage Manager, in a new 75th-anniversary production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic by Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC.

Stephen Rayne (Ford's Theatre's The Heavens Are Hung in Black, Sabrina Fair and Parade) "directs a diverse cast, creating an Our Town for our time," according to the not-for-profit company. Performances play Jan. 25-Feb. 24, 2013.

The play "presents a timeless commentary on the transience of human existence," according to Ford's Theatre. "Teenagers George and Emily meet, fall in love, marry — and suffer the slings and arrows of everyday life. Wilder transforms their ordinary story into a poignant and captivating exploration of mortality and the interconnectivity of human beings."

"Our Town is a play which transcends differences in culture, class and race, and speaks to the great themes common to all great art: love, death and marriage," Rayne said in a statement. "From its first production in 1938, the play struck a powerful chord with the American psyche, and it is as fresh and relevant today as it was then. I am hoping to bring a fresh perspective to this great classic and present a production that Ford's and Mr. Wilder will be proud of."

Expect "a simplistic color scheme and set design" for Our Town "in order to showcase the story's universal themes of love and loss." The production team includes scenic designer Tony Cisek, costume designer Kate Turner-Walker, lighting designer Pat Collins, original music and sound designers David Budries and Nathan A. Roberts, wig and makeup designer Anne Nesmith, movement and mime director Mark Jaster, production stage manager Brandon Prendergast and assistant stage manager Kate Kilbane.

Ford's will also offer a series of programs in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of Our Town, including readings of Wilder's plays with local universities, a pre-performance seminar with author Penelope Niven and Thornton Wilder's nephew and literary executor Tappan Wilder, and a special celebration of the play's Broadway opening to include the presentation of The Thornton Wilder Society's Thornton Wilder Prize.